Preservation of cell-free RNA in blood samples

ABSTRACT

A method for preserving and processing cell-free nucleic acids located within a blood sample is disclosed, wherein a blood sample containing cell-free nucleic acids is treated to reduce both blood cell lysis and nuclease activity within the blood sample. The treatment of the sample aids in increasing the amount of cell-free nucleic acids that can be identified and tested while maintaining the structure and integrity of the nucleic acids.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/153,472, filed on Feb. 18, 2009, the entirety of the contents of that application being hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the identification and isolation of cell-free nucleic acids in blood samples and more particularly to the preservation of cell-free RNA within a blood sample.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It has been recognized that mRNA obtained from plasma of a blood sample can be useful as an indicator of protein expression. Thus, the presence of extra-cellular or cell-free mRNA in blood plasma has triggered a variety of investigations aimed at determining the source and possible diagnostic capabilities of these nucleic acids. Given that the blood of most healthy individuals ordinarily does not contain substantial amounts of cell-free RNA, elevated amounts of cell-free nucleic acids are usually indicative of a health issue (or pregnancy, as fetal cell-free nucleic acids have been identified in maternal blood). Specifically, elevated presence of cell-free mRNA has been found to indicate the existence of various cancers thereby providing support for the belief that these nucleic acids may originate from tumor cells. Consequently, the identification of cell-free RNA within a blood sample could provide insight into the presence and severity of cancer or some other condition (e.g., diabetes, inflammation, arthritis, infection, or the like), and may thus be an early indicator of such condition. The identification of cell-free RNA within a blood sample may also provide guidance for how best to treat a patient depending upon the relative amounts of cell-free nucleic acids identified within the patient's blood sample. Thus it may be useful not only for diagnosis, but also for patient treatment (e.g., by evaluating a change in the RNA condition of a patient as treatment progresses).

RNA is typically subject to ribonuclease (RNase) activity that reduces the amount of recoverable RNA from a blood sample. However, it has been discovered that despite the presence of ample RNase activity in blood plasma, cell-free mRNA is unexpectedly very stable in vivo and avoids any substantial nuclease mediated degradation. However, after a blood sample is acquired from a patient, cell lysis begins and the nucleic acids from within the blood cells are mixed with the cell-free nucleic acids, making it difficult if not impossible to isolate and distinguish the cell-free mRNA. Further, there is concern about the stability of the cell-free nucleic acids and their ability to avoid nuclease-initiated degradation in vitro. Consequently, the disease indication capability of the cell-free nucleic acids may be diminished as their presence is no longer accurately ascertainable. Ideally, prevention of cell lysis and cell-free nucleic acid degradation within the blood sample would allow for the cell-free nucleic acids to be accurately measured and the presence of any disease risk to be detected.

Efforts to further understand the unexpected stability of the cell-free nucleic acids in vivo have led to the belief that these nucleic acids are able to avoid nuclease activity through protection from proteins or by being packaged into apoptotic bodies. In other words, as cells undergo cell death or apoptosis, apoptotic bodies are produced and the cell-free nucleic acids become encased within a membrane of the apoptotic body, thereby reducing the susceptibility of the nucleic acids to nucleases. However, there is concern that after blood draw the nucleic acids somehow become disassociated from the apoptotic bodies and become vulnerable to nucleases. There is a resulting need to process the blood samples containing the cell-free nucleic acids so that the nucleic acids continue to be unaffected by nucleases throughout processing to produce accurate counts of cell-free nucleic acids for diagnosis purposes.

Metabolic inhibitors have been employed previously to inhibit metabolism in cells. For example, glyceraldehyde, sodium fluoride, and ATA, have been used to inhibit glucose metabolism in blood cells. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,614,391; and 7,390,663 incorporated by reference herein. The use of formaldehyde-donor preservatives for cell or tissue, or RNA preservation has been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,196,182; 5,260,048; 5,459,073; 5,811,099; 5,849,517; and 6,337,189, incorporated by reference herein.

A number of patent documents address processes for the stabilization and/or identification of nucleic acids located within blood plasma and their diagnostic applications. See, generally, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,614,391; 5,985,572; 6,617,170; 6,630,301; 6,759,217; 6,821,789; 6,916,634; 6,939,671; 6,939,675; 7,208,275; 7,288,380, 7,569,350 and U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2008/0057502; 2008/0096217; and 2008/0261292 all incorporated by reference herein. Notwithstanding the above, there remains a need for cell-free RNA isolation and preservation methods that preserve cell-free RNA substantially as it exists at the time of a blood draw in an effort to maximize the amount of recovered cell-free nucleic acid from blood plasma and produce reliable isolation and diagnostic results.

The present invention addresses the need for an efficient and consistent method of preserving and testing of a blood sample for elevated levels of cell-free RNA in plasma of the blood sample, which unexpectedly and surprisingly results in short term inhibition of metabolism (i.e., RNA synthesis); long term fixing of blood cells of the blood sample to prevent leaking of cellular RNA into the plasma; fixing the cellular RNA that is within the blood cells to freeze (e.g., immobilize) the protein expression pattern of the blood cells; and stabilizing and protecting the RNA that is in the plasma from nucleases and proteases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention contemplates a screening method for the identification of a disease state, comprising the steps of: contacting a drawn blood sample that includes a plurality of blood cells with a plasma RNA (e.g., mRNA) protective agent; isolating cell-free RNA from the blood sample; and analyzing (e.g., by quantity, quality, or both) the isolated RNA for the presence, absence, or severity of a disease state. The protective agent may be present in an amount and for a time sufficient so that the RNA synthesis is inhibited for at least two hours. The protective agent may be present in an amount so that blood cells of the drawn blood sample are fixed to substantially prevent leaking of cellular RNA into the plasma. The protective agent may be present in an amount so that any cellular RNA that is within the blood cells at the time of the blood draw is substantially preserved to immobilize the protein expression pattern of the blood cells so that the protein expression pattern of the cells remains substantially the same as at the time of the blood draw. The protective agent may be present in an amount so that the RNA that is in the plasma is substantially stabilized against degradation mediated by the combined action of nucleases and proteases.

The protective agent may include one or more preservative agents, one or more enzyme inhibitors, one or more metabolic inhibitors, or any combination thereof. The one or more preservative agents may include a formaldehyde releaser such as one selected from the group consisting of: diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, dimethoylol-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, dimethylol urea, 2-bromo-2.-nitropropane-1,3-diol, oxazolidines, sodium hydroxymethyl glycinate, 5-hydroxymethoxymethyl-1-1aza-3,7-dioxabicyclo [3.3.0]octane, 5-hydroxymethyl-1-1aza-3,7dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane, 5-hydroxypoly[methyleneoxy]methyl-1-1aza-3,7dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane, quaternary adamantine and any combination thereof. The one or more enzyme inhibitors may be selected from the group consisting of: diethyl pyrocarbonate, ethanol, aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA), glyceraldehydes, sodium fluoride, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), formamide, vanadyl-ribonucleoside complexes, macaloid, heparin, hydroxylamine-oxygen-cupric ion, bentonite, ammonium sulfate, dithiothreitol (DTT), beta-mercaptoethanol, cysteine, dithioerythritol, tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphene hydrochloride, a divalent cation such as Mg⁺², Mn⁺², Zn⁺², Fe⁺², Ca⁺², Cu⁺² and any combination thereof. The one or more metabolic inhibitors may be selected from the group consisting of: glyceraldehyde, dihydroxyacetone phosphate, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate, 3-phosphoglycerate, 2-phosphoglycerate, phosphoenolpyruvate, pyruvate and glycerate dihydroxyacetate, sodium fluoride, K₂C₂O₄ and any combination thereof.

The concentration of the preservative agent prior to the contacting step may be at least about 50 g/l. The concentration of the preservative agent prior to the contacting step may be less than about 500 g/l. The concentration of the preservative agent prior to the contacting step may be at least about 200 g/l. The concentration of the preservative agent prior to the contacting step may be less than about 300 g/l. The concentration of the preservative agent prior to the contacting step may be a concentration at which cross-linking of nucleic acids and proteins is observed, as indicated by agarose gel electrophoresis.

The isolating step may include isolating the nucleic acid from plasma of the blood sample. Either or both of the isolating and analyzing steps may occur at least 2 hours, 7 days, or even 14 days after the blood sample is drawn. Either or both of the isolating and analyzing steps may occur without freezing the blood sample (e.g. to a temperature colder than about −30° C. (more preferably colder than about −70° C.)). The analyzing step, the isolating step or both may include a step of contacting the nucleic acid with an enzyme, an amplifier or both.

The contacting step may take place in a blood collection tube into which the blood sample is drawn. The contacting step may take place as the blood sample is drawn. The contacting step may be sufficient so that after a period of at least 7 days from the time the blood sample is drawn, the amount of cell-free RNA present in the blood sample is at least about 90%, at least about 95%, or about 100% of the amount of cell-free RNA present in the blood sample at the time the blood sample is drawn. The contacting step may be sufficient so that after a period of at least about 7 days from the time the blood sample is drawn, the concentration of cell-free RNA relative to the total nucleic acid in the blood sample that is present is at least about 10 times, at least about 20 times, or at least about 50 times the amount of cell-free RNA that would be present in the absence of the contacting step.

The protective agent may include a metabolic inhibitor selected from the group consisting of: glyceraldehyde, dihydroxyacetone phosphate, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate, 3-phosphoglycerate, 2-phosphoglycerate, phosphoenolpyruvate, pyruvate and glycerate dihydroxyacetate, sodium fluoride, K₂C₂O₄ and any combination thereof. The protective agent may include a protease inhibitor selected from the group consisting of: antipain, aprotinin, chymostatin, elastatinal, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), APMSF, TLCK, TPCK, leupeptin, soybean trypsin inhibitor, indoleacetic acid (IAA), E-64, pepstatin, VdLPFFVdL, EDTA, 1,10-phenanthroline, phosphoramodon, amastatin, bestatin, diprotin A, diprotin B, alpha-2-macroglobulin, lima bean trypsin inhibitor, pancreatic protease inhibitor, egg white ovostatin egg white cystatin, and any combination thereof. The protective agent may include a phosphatase inhibitor selected from the group consisting of: calyculin A, nodularin, NIPP-1, microcystin LR, tautomycin, okadaic acid, cantharidin, microcystin LR, okadaic acid, fostriecin, tautomycin, cantharidin, endothall, nodularin, cyclosporin A, FK 506/immunophilin complexes, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, fenvalerate, bpV(phen), dephostatin, mpV(pic) DMHV, sodium orthovanadate and any combination thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graphic representation showing the glucose concentration present within blood samples contacted with six different compositions over time.

FIG. 2 is a graphic representation of showing the relative amounts of cell-free RNA present within four blood samples over time using the 18S rRNA copy number as a marker where an increase in the 18S rRNA copy number is indicative of cell lysis or increased cell metabolism; there is seen a plot of “preservative agent+nuclease inhibitor+metabolic inhibitor 1& 2” that shows constant concentration of 18S rRNA that is indicative of uncontaminated (from cellular mRNA) and protected (from nuclease mediated degradation) cell-free mRNA.

FIG. 3 is a graphic representation showing the relative amounts of cell-free RNA present within two blood samples over time using the RASSF1A copy number as a marker.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, the invention herein contemplates a screening method for the identification of disease presence which includes the preservation and isolation of cell-free nucleic acids located within a blood sample. A unique preservation step acts to increase the amount of recoverable nucleic acids thereby improving the diagnostic capabilities of the cell-free nucleic acids.

The present invention provides a method for the isolation of nucleic acids using a protective agent. The nucleic acid may be DNA, RNA, or any combination thereof. The nucleic acid may be cell-free DNA, cell-free RNA, or any combination thereof. The samples from which the nucleic acids may be isolated include any blood sample. The cell-free nucleic acids may be located within plasma. The method disclosed herein allows for the efficient preservation and isolation of cell-free (e.g., extra-cellular) nucleic acids while avoiding possible mixing with nucleic acids originating within the blood cells that enter a blood sample due to cell lysis after blood draw.

The process for improved cell-free nucleic acid isolation from a blood sample begins by contacting a blood sample with a protective agent containing one or more active ingredients to maintain the integrity of the components within the sample. The one or more active ingredients may include a preservative agent. The preservative agent may include a formaldehyde donor composition. Ingredients that may be used as a preservative agent include, but are not limited to, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, dimethoylol-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, dimethylol urea, 2-bromo-2.-nitropropane-1,3-diol, oxazolidines, sodium hydroxymethyl glycinate, 5-hydroxymethoxymethyl-1-1aza-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane, 5-hydroxymethyl-1-1aza-3,7dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane, 5-hydroxypoly[methyleneoxy]methyl-1-1aza-3,7dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane, quaternary adamantine or any combination thereof. The preservative agent may be selected from the group consisting of diazolidinyl urea (DU), imidazolidinyl urea (IDU), and any combination thereof.

The amount of preservative agent used is generally about 50 to about 500 grams per liter. For example, the preservative agent may comprise about 200 to about 300 grams of DU per liter of buffered salt solution.

As used throughout the present teachings, the protective agent composition preferably is substantially non-toxic. For example, the methods herein (and compositions used herein) are free of separately adding and/or handling of any materially significant concentration (e.g., less than about 1% by weight, more preferably less than about 2000 parts per million, more preferably less than about 1000 parts per million, and still more preferably less than about 500 parts per million) of formaldehyde and/or paraformaldehyde prior to any contact with a blood product sample. Further, the protective agent may be substantially free of guanidinium salts, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), or any combination thereof.

The protective agent may further contain one or more nuclease inhibitors (e.g., enzyme inhibitors) in a suitable amount to prevent DNase and/or RNase activity from decreasing the quality and amount (e.g. by at least about 10% by weight, and more preferably at least about 50% by weight) of cell-free nucleic acids recoverable from the blood sample as compared with a sample that does not include a nuclease inhibitor. Nuclease inhibitors that may be used include, but are not limited to diethyl pyrocarbonate, ethanol, aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA), formamide, vanadyl-ribonucleoside complexes, macaloid, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), proteinase K, heparin, hydroxylamine-oxygen-cupric ion, bentonite, ammonium sulfate, dithiothreitol (DTT), beta-mercaptoethanol, cysteine, dithioerythritol, tris(2-carboxyethyl) phosphene hydrochloride, or a divalent cation such as Mg⁺², Mn⁺², Zn⁺², Fe⁺², Ca⁺², Cu⁺² and any combination thereof. More preferably, the nuclease inhibitors that may be used include aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA), ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), and any combination thereof. Preferred nuclease inhibitors may bind to nucleases (e.g., RNases) so that the nucleases are no longer capable of contacting the cell-free RNA thereby reducing the adverse effects of nucleases on the quantity and quality of the cell-free RNA. The one or more nuclease inhibitors may be present in an amount sufficient to prevent nuclease activity from reducing the amount of recoverable cell-free RNA by more than about 15%.

The protective agent may also include one or more metabolic inhibitors in a suitable amount to reduce cell metabolism within a blood sample. Metabolic inhibitors that may be used include, but are not limited to glyceraldehyde, dihydroxyacetone phosphate, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate, 3-phosphoglycerate, 2-phosphoglycerate, phosphoenolpyruvate, pyruvate and glycerate dihydroxyacetate, sodium fluoride, K₂C₂O₄ and any combination thereof. More preferably, the one or more metabolic inhibitors used may include sodium fluoride, glyceraldehyde and any combination thereof. Preferred metabolic inhibitors may reduce degradation of cell-free RNA and also reduce cell lysis so that cellular RNA does not become intermixed with any cell-free RNA. This intermixing of cell-free RNA and cellular RNA may reduce the accuracy of any measurement of the amount of cell-free RNA in a blood sample. As an example, in the event that severity of a specified cancer may be measured by the amount of cell-free RNA in a blood sample, any sample that has not been treated to inhibit metabolism may show an unusually high amount of cell-free RNA, even though much of that cell-free RNA originated within one or more blood cells. Thus, the test result may show a false positive of increased cancer severity when in fact the actual amount of true cell-free RNA was low, representing a cancer of reduced severity. The one or more metabolic inhibitors may be present in an amount sufficient to prevent cell metabolism from reducing the accuracy of any cell-free RNA measurement by more than about 15%.

The protective agent may also include one or more protease inhibiting compounds which may limit RNA synthesis. Such protease inhibiting compounds may include but are not limited to antipain, aprotinin, chymostatin, elastatinal, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), APMSF, TLCK, TPCK, leupeptin, soybean trypsin inhibitor, indoleacetic acid (IAA), E-64, pepstatin, VdLPFFVdL, EDTA, 1,10-phenanthroline, phosphoramodon, amastatin, bestatin, diprotin A, diprotin B, alpha-2-macroglobulin, lima bean trypsin inhibitor, pancreatic protease inhibitor, egg white ovostatin, egg white cystatin and any combination thereof. Combinations of protease inhibitors, commonly referred to as a “protease inhibition cocktail” by commercial suppliers of such inhibitors, may also be used within the protective agent. Such “cocktails” are generally advantageous in that they provide stability for a range of proteins of interest. Preferred protease inhibitors may include aprotonin, EDTA, EGTA, PMSF, and any combination thereof. The one or more protease inhibiting compounds may be present in an amount sufficient to prevent RNA synthesis from reducing the accuracy of any cell-free RNA measurement by more than about 15%.

The protective agent may further include one or more phosphatase inhibitors including but not limited to calyculin A, nodularin, NIPP-1, microcystin LR, tautomycin, okadaic acid, cantharidin, imidazole, microcystin LR, okadaic acid, fostriecin, tautomycin, cantharidin, endothall, nodularin, cyclosporin A, FK 506/immunophilin complexes, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, fenvalerate, bpV(phen), dephostatin, mpV(pic) DMHV, sodium orthovanadate and combinations thereof. Phosphatase inhibitor cocktails may also be included within the protective agent, as they also provide stability for a wide range of proteins. Preferred phosphatase inhibitors may include cantharidin, sodium orthovanadate, imidazole and any combination thereof. The one or more phosphatase inhibiting compounds may be present in an amount sufficient to prevent a reduction in the accuracy of any cell-free RNA measurement by more than about 15%.

The protective agent may include one or more polyamines in a suitable amount such that they are capable of binding with any nucleic acids thereby preventing degradation of the nucleic acids. The polyamines that may be added include but are not limited to spermine, spermidine, putrescine, cadaverine, and combinations thereof. Preferably, the polyamines used may include spermine and spermidine.

The initial contacting of the blood sample with the protective agent may be for a time sufficient to inhibit cell lysis, nuclease activity, or any combination thereof. Contacting may occur for at least about 10 seconds, at least about 1 minute, or at least about 2 minutes. Contacting can occur for longer periods of time. For example, contacting may be commenced substantially contemporaneously from the time of blood draw (e.g., within less than about 10 minutes of the blood draw) and it may last until nucleic acids are isolated, screened, and/or tested. The contacting step may also be employed to provide a sample with a longer shelf life. Thus, it is possible that a lapse of time of at least about 2 hours, more preferably at least about 6 hours, at least about 24 hours, at least about 7 days or even at least about 14 days can elapse between the time of blood draw (which may be substantially contemporaneous with the contacting step), and the time of any testing or screening of the sample, and or isolation of the nucleic acids.

The protective agent may comprise an active agent in solution. Suitable solvents include water, saline, dimethylsulfoxide, alcohol and any mixture thereof. The protective agent solution may comprise diazolidinyl urea (DU) and/or imidazolidinyl urea (IDU) in a buffered salt solution. The protective agent solution may further comprise EDTA and ATA. The protective agent solution may also include one or more metabolic inhibitors. The protective agent solution may contain only a fixative and may be substantially free of any additional additives.

The amount of any active ingredient within the protective agent may generally be at least about 0.01% by weight. The amount of any active ingredient within the protective agent may generally be less than about 70% by weight. The protective agent may comprise at least about 10% diazolidinyl urea. The protective agent may comprise less than about 40% diazolidinyl urea. The protective agent may further contain at least about 1% of one or more enzyme inhibitors (e.g., nuclease inhibitors) such as EDTA and ATA. The protective agent may contain less than about 30% of one or more enzyme inhibitors. The protective agent may also contain at least about 1% of one or more metabolic inhibitors. The protective agent may contain less than about 20% of one or more metabolic inhibitors.

The amount of preservative agent (e.g., fixative) relative to the amount of any enzyme inhibitors (e.g., EDTA and ATA) is preferably about 1 to about 10 parts (more preferably about 3 to about 6 parts) by weight of fixative to about 2 parts by weight of enzyme inhibitors. The amount of fixative (e.g. the formaldehyde releaser) relative to the amount of any one or more metabolic inhibitors is preferably about 1 to about 10 parts (more preferably about 3 to about 7 parts) by weight of fixative to about 1 part by weight metabolic inhibitors. The amount of protective agent within a tube prior to blood draw may be at least about 200 g/liter. The amount of protective agent within a tube prior to blood draw may be less than about 1000 g/liter.

The combination of one or more preservative agents (e.g. the formaldehyde releasers), one or more enzyme inhibitors, one or more nuclease inhibitors and one or more metabolic inhibitors within the protective agent results in improved ability to maintain the amount and quality of cell-free RNA within a blood sample and is used in a manner and amount so that such results are obtained. These results are believed unexpected and superior to results obtained by the use of only the preservative agent, only the enzyme inhibitor, only the nuclease inhibitor, only the metabolic inhibitor or any combination including two of the preservative agent, the enzyme inhibitor, the nuclease inhibitor, or the metabolic inhibitor. Therefore, it can be appreciated that a synergistic effect occurs when a preservative agent, enzyme inhibitor, nuclease inhibitor, and metabolic inhibitor are combined.

The protective agent can be located within a specialized device, wherein the protective agent is already present in the device prior to addition of the blood sample, such as that disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0137417, incorporated by reference herein. More preferably, the device is an evacuated collection container, usually a tube. The tube may preferably be made of a transparent material that will also resist adherence of the cells within a given sample. The interior wall of the tube may be coated or otherwise treated to modify its surface characteristics, such as to render it more hydrophobic and/or more hydrophilic, over all or a portion of its surface. The tube may have an interior wall flame sprayed, subjected to corona discharge, plasma treated, coated or otherwise treated. The tube may be treated by contacting an interior wall with a substance so that the nucleic acids of interest will resist adhering to the tube walls. The surface of the tube may be modified to provide a dual functionality that simultaneously provides an appropriate balance of desired hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity, to allow collection of blood, dispersion of the preservatives herein, and resistance of adhesion of nucleic acids to the inner wall of a blood collection tube. Thus it is possible that any coating may be a functionalized polymeric coating that includes a first polymer and one or more second monomeric and/or polymeric functionalities that are different from (e.g., chemically different from) the first polymer. The coating may include one or more co-polymers (e.g., block copolymer, graft copolymer, or otherwise). For example, it may include a copolymer that includes a first hydrophobic polymeric portion, and a second hydrophilic polymeric portion. The coating may be a water based coating. The coating may optionally include an adhesion promoter. The coating may be applied in any suitable manner, it may be sprayed, dipped, swabbed, or otherwise applied onto some or all of the interior of the blood collection tube. The coating may also be applied in the presence of heat. Preferably any coating applied to the inner wall of a blood collection tube will form a sufficiently tenacious bond with the glass (e.g., borosilicate glass) or other material (e.g., polymeric material) of the tube so that it will not erode or otherwise get removed from the inner wall. Examples of suitable polymeric coatings may include silicon containing polymers (e.g., silanes, siloxanes, or otherwise); polyolefins such as polyethylene or polypropylene; polyethylene terephthalate; fluorinated polymers (e.g., polytetrafluoroethylene); polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene or any combination thereof. Examples of teachings that may be employed to coat an interior of a blood collection tube may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,551,267; 6,077,235; 5,257,633; and 5,213,765; all incorporated by reference.

The composition included in the tube may be present in an amount sufficient to preserve cell morphology and prevent cell degradation while also preventing deleterious DNase and RNase activity within the cell-free nucleic acids. However, the amount may also be sufficiently small so that any consequential dilution of the sample is substantially avoided, and cell-free nucleic acids in the sample are not materially diluted. A blood sample may be fixed simultaneously as it is drawn into the specialized tube. The tube may also be coated over an exterior wall with a protective coating (e.g., a containment barrier that helps control glass shard fragmentation) such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,419,832, incorporated by reference herein.

Additionally, the protective agent may be in a highly viscous or substantially solid state, such that (for example) it can be used effectively as a substantially solid state coating. Examples of such substantially solid state preservatives can be found in commonly owned co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/646,204, incorporated by reference herein. Liquid removal techniques can be performed on the protective agent in order to obtain a substantially solid state protective agent. Liquid removal conditions may preferably be such that they result in removal of at least about 50% by weight, more preferably at least about 75% by weight, and still more preferably at least about 85% by weight of the original amount of the dispensed liquid protective agent. Liquid removal conditions may preferably be such that they result in removal of sufficient liquid so that the resulting composition is in the form of a film, gel or other substantially solid or highly viscous layer; for example it may result in a substantially immobile coating (preferably a coating that can be re-dissolved or otherwise dispersed upon contact with a blood product sample). Thus, liquid removal conditions may preferably be such that they result in a material that upon contact with the sample under consideration (e.g., a maternal blood sample) the protective agent will disperse in the sample, and substantially preserve components (e.g., cell-free nucleic acids) in the sample. Liquid removal conditions may preferably be such that they result in a remaining composition that is substantially free of crystallinity; has a viscosity that is sufficiently high that the remaining composition is substantially immobile at ambient temperature (e.g., it does not exhibit any visibly detectable (as seen by the naked eye) flow when held in a storage device at room temperature on an incline of at least about 45° for at least one hour); or both. In this regard as taught in the forgoing application a colorant may also be employed.

As discussed herein, contacting a blood or plasma sample with the protective agent allows the sample to be stored for a period of time prior to isolating and testing the nucleic acids. A blood or plasma sample may be drawn at one location (e.g., a health care facility), contacted with the protective agent, and later transported to a different remote location (e.g., a laboratory, such as one that is separately housed at a distance of at least about 1 km, 2 km, 3 km, or further away from the draw site) for the nucleic acid isolation and testing process. The nucleic acids can be isolated from the blood or plasma sample and tested at the remote location and the resulting diagnostic information may be reported to the site of the original blood draw. The nucleic acid isolation process may be performed at one remote location and the resulting data can be analyzed to identify the presence, absence or relative severity of a disease state at a third location. Alternatively, the results of the cell-free nucleic acid isolation process may be sent back to the site of the initial blood draw and analyzed there. The resulting diagnostic information may then be sent to a third location or back to the remote location or the site of the initial blood draw.

At any time after the initial contact of the blood or plasma sample with the protective agent, the sample can be treated to isolate the cell-free nucleic acids located within the blood. The nucleic acids may be isolated using any isolation method including those methods disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0081678, incorporated by reference herein. The protective agent may aid in maintaining the integrity of blood cell membranes (e.g., the cell membranes remain intact), so that nucleic acids are not released into the sample from blood cells having ruptured cell membranes. Any cell membrane rupture may cause cellular nucleic acids to enter the plasma making isolation of the cell-free nucleic acids (e.g., identifying and separating cell-free nucleic acids from nucleic acids that originated within a blood cell) more difficult. The fixative agent may act to prevent cell lysis so that the blood cells remain intact and substantially all cellular nucleic acids remain intra-cellular to avoid unwanted contamination of the cell-free nucleic acids.

After the cell-free nucleic acids have been isolated, they can be tested to identify the presence, absence or severity of a disease state including but not limited to a multitude of cancers. The methods herein thus further contemplate a step of nucleic acid testing. Testing of the nucleic acids can be performed using any nucleic acid testing method including, but not limited to polymerase chain reaction (PCR), reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR), gel electrophoresis, capillary electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, fluorescence detection, ultraviolet spectrometry, DNA hybridization, allele specific polymerase chain reaction, polymerase cycling assembly (PCA), asymmetric polymerase chain reaction, linear after the exponential polymerase chain reaction (LATE-PCR), helicase-dependent amplification (HDA), hot-start polymerase chain reaction, intersequence-specific polymerase chain reaction (ISSR), inverse polymerase chain reaction, ligation mediated polymerase chain reaction, methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP), multiplex polymerase chain reaction, nested polymerase chain reaction, solid phase polymerase chain reaction, or any combination thereof.

The present invention includes a method for isolating and testing cell-free RNA from plasma. The method can be performed on a single sample or on multiple samples simultaneously (e.g., in a multi-well plate). The method includes contacting a plasma sample with a protective agent. The protective agent may include one or more active ingredients as previously discussed so that the blood cells remain intact throughout the blood draw and RNA isolation process. The protective agent may further include one or more RNase or enzyme inhibitors and one or more metabolic inhibitors to maintain the structural integrity of the RNA. After contacting the blood sample with the protective agent, the sample may be centrifuged to separate the plasma. The cell pellet may then be discarded. Alternatively, by contacting a blood sample with the protective agent, the blood sample does not necessarily require immediate processing and can be stored for up to about 14 days at room temperature. Thus the inventions herein contemplate one or more steps of storing and/or otherwise waiting a relatively lengthy period from the time of blood draw and/or contacting until the time of screening, testing or other analysis. Once the sample is processed, an appropriate concentration of salt and alcohol may be added to precipitate the RNA containing material. An organic or other compound such as a phenol derivative or the like may then be added to remove any remaining protein contaminants. Any protein contaminants that still remain may be removed by adding additional amounts of an organic or other compound such as a phenol derivative or the like. After centrifugation, ethanol may be added and the sample centrifuged again. Any remaining liquid may be removed from the sample so only the RNA will remain. The finished product of isolated RNA may then be contacted with a buffer.

Incubation may also occur. For example, incubation may occur on ice or at any temperature between −30° C. and 70° C. A sample may be incubated at about −20° C. A sample may also be stored at room temperature and thus substantially free of any freezing upon blood draw.

Preferably, centrifuging occurs at speeds of about 500 to about 15,000 rpm. Centrifuging may occur at about 1,000 to 13,000 rpm. Centrifuging may be performed at a temperature of about 1-20° C. Centrifuging may be performed at a temperature of about 4-9° C.

EXAMPLE 1

Blood samples from the same donor are drawn into six separate blood collection tubes (tube 1 through tube 6). Tube 1 contains only EDTA. Tube 2 contains DU and EDTA. Tube 3 contains DU, EDTA and ATA. Tube 4 contains DU, EDTA, ATA and glyceraldehyde. Tube 5 contains DU, EDTA, ATA and sodium fluoride. Tube 6 contains DU, EDTA, ATA, glyceraldehyde and sodium fluoride. All tubes are stored at room temperature and 1 ml aliquots of blood are removed from each tube at hours 1.5, 8, 24, 48, 72 and 96. The blood glucose levels of each sample are measured using a YSI blood glucose meter available from YSI Life Sciences (Yellow Springs, Ohio). The blood glucose concentration of those samples from tube 6 maintained relatively consistent glucose levels over the test period, indicating that the combination of EDTA, DU, ATA, glyceraldehyde and sodium fluoride provided reduced levels of cell metabolism. The results of this example are shown in a graphic format at FIG. 1.

EXAMPLE 2

Four blood samples from the same donor are drawn into four separate blood collection tubes, tube A through tube D. Tube A contains DU, EDTA, ATA, glyceraldehyde and sodium fluoride. Tube B contains DU, EDTA and ATA. Tube C contains DU and EDTA. Tube D contains only EDTA. All tubes are stored at room temperature and 1 ml aliquots of blood are removed from each tube on day 0, day 1, day 2, and day 3 and plasma is separated. All samples are centrifuged at 800 g for 10 minutes at room temperature to separate the plasma. The plasma is then transferred into new tubes and centrifuged at 1500 g for 10 minutes at room temperature. Free circulating RNA is purified using the QIAamp MinElute Virus Spin kit available from Qiagen, Inc. (Valencia, Calif.). RNA is extracted from each plasma sample. The samples are then amplified by Real Time PCR (using TaqMan® RT PCR reagents available from Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) to identify the 18S rRNA copy number per ml of plasma. Results showed a consistent relative percentage of 18S rRNA copy number per ml of plasma (about 0%) at each measurement, indicating little or no cellular RNA presence as a result of cell lysis or increased cell metabolism in the plasma samples originating in Tube A (containing DU, EDTA, ATA, glyceraldehyde and sodium fluoride). The 18S rRNA copy number per ml of plasma showed elevated levels at every measurement in those samples originating in tubes B, C, and D indicating an increase in the amount of cellular RNA present as a result of cell lysis or increased cell metabolism. The results of this example are shown in a graphic format at FIG. 2.

EXAMPLE 3

Blood samples from the same donor are drawn into two separate blood collection tubes. The first tube contains DU, EDTA, ATA, glyceraldehyde and sodium fluoride. The second tube contains only EDTA. Both tubes are stored at room temperature and 1 ml aliquots of blood are removed from each tube on day 0, day 1, day 2, day 7, and day 8 and plasma is separated. All samples are centrifuged at 800 g for 10 minutes at room temperature to separate the plasma. The plasma is then transferred into new tubes and centrifuged at 1500 g for 10 minutes at room temperature. Free circulating RNA is purified using the QIAamp MinElute Virus Spin kit available from Qiagen Inc. (Valencia, Calif.). RNA is extracted from each plasma sample. The samples are then amplified by Real Time PCR (using TaqMan® RT PCR reagents available from Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) to identify fragments of β-globin and RASSF1A genes within the plasma. Results showed a consistent relative percentage of RASSF1A genes per ml of plasma at each measurement, indicating little decrease of RNA presence in the plasma samples originating in the first tube (containing DU, EDTA, ATA, glyceraldehyde and sodium fluoride). The RASSF1A genes per ml of plasma showed decreased levels at every measurement in those samples originating in the tube containing only EDTA indicating a decrease in the amount of cell-free RNA present over time. The results of this example are shown in a graphic format at FIG. 3.

Examples 1, 2 and 3 above demonstrate an unexpected synergistic effect occurring only in blood samples contacted by a fixative, one or more enzyme inhibitors (e.g., nuclease inhibitors), and one or more metabolic inhibitors or more specifically, by a protective agent including DU, EDTA, ATA, glyceraldehyde and sodium fluoride. Blood samples contacted by only a fixative, only an enzyme inhibitor, only a metabolic inhibitor or any combination including less than all of the above components do not demonstrate the ability to maintain the integrity of the blood cells or the integrity of the nucleic acids. The combined effect of the DU, EDTA, ATA, glyceraldehydes and sodium fluoride far exceeds any expectations based on the effect, or lack thereof, of the DU, EDTA, ATA, glyceraldehydes or sodium fluoride used alone.

It will be appreciated that concentrates or dilutions of the amounts recited herein may be employed. In general, the relative proportions of the ingredients recited will remain the same. Thus, by way of example, if the teachings call for 30 parts by weight of a Component A, and 10 parts by weight of a Component B, the skilled artisan will recognize that such teachings also constitute a teaching of the use of Component A and Component B in a relative ratio of 3:1. Teachings of concentrations in the examples may be varied within about 25% (or higher) of the stated values and similar results are expected. Moreover, such compositions of the examples may be employed successfully in the present methods to isolate nucleic acids (e.g., cell-free RNA).

It will be appreciated that the above is by way of illustration only. Other ingredients may be employed in any of the compositions disclosed herein, as desired, to achieve the desired resulting characteristics. Examples of other ingredients that may be employed include antibiotics, anesthetics, antihistamines, preservatives, surfactants, antioxidants, unconjugated bile acids, mold inhibitors, nucleic acids, pH adjusters, osmolarity adjusters, or any combination thereof.

The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended to acquaint others skilled in the art with the invention, its principles, and its practical application. Those skilled in the art may adapt and apply the invention in its numerous forms, as may be best suited to the requirements of a particular use. Accordingly, the specific embodiments of the present invention as set forth are not intended as being exhaustive or limiting of the invention. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. Other combinations are also possible as will be gleaned from the following claims, which are also hereby incorporated by reference into this written description. 

1. A screening method for the identification of a disease state, comprising the steps of: contacting a drawn blood sample that includes a plurality of blood cells with a plasma RNA protective agent containing: from about 0.5% to about 2.5% by weight of aurintricarboxylic acid; from about 20% to about 30% by weight diazolidinyl urea; from about 0.05% to about 1.5% by weight sodium fluoride; from about 1% to about 8% by weight glyceraldehyde; and from about 5% to about 15% by weight EDTA for a time sufficient so that RNA synthesis is inhibited for at least two hours; blood cells of the drawn blood sample are fixed to prevent leaking of cellular RNA into the plasma; any cellular RNA that is within the blood cells at the time of the blood draw is preserved to immobilize the protein expression pattern of the blood cells so that the protein expression pattern of the cells remains the same as at the time of the blood draw; and cell-free RNA that is in the plasma is stabilized against degradation mediated by the combined action of nucleases and proteases; a. isolating the cell-free RNA from the blood sample; and b. analyzing the isolated RNA for the presence, absence, or severity of a disease state.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the concentration of the diazolidinyl urea prior to the contacting step is about 100 g/l to about 400 g/l.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the concentration of the diazolidinyl urea prior to the contacting step is a concentration at which cross-linking of nucleic acids and proteins is observed, as indicated by agarose gel electrophoresis.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of the diazolidinyl urea is less than, or about 10 g/l of the blood sample.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein (i) either or both of the isolating or analyzing steps occurs at least 7 days after the blood sample is drawn, (ii) either or both of the isolating or analyzing steps occurs without freezing the blood sample: or both (i) and (ii).
 6. The method of claim 1, therein the cell-free RNA is mRNA.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing step, the isolating step or both includes a step of contacting the nucleic acid with an enzyme.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacting step is sufficient so that after a period of at least 7 days from the time the blood sample is drawn, the amount of cell-free RNA present in the blood sample is at least, or about 90% of the amount of cell-free RNA present in the blood sample at the time the blood sample is drawn.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacting step is sufficient so that after a period of at least, or about 7 days from the time the blood sample is drawn, the concentration of cell-free RNA relative to the total nucleic acid in the blood sample that is present is at least, or about 20 to 50 times the amount of cell-free RNA that would be present in the absence of the contacting step. 